28 December 2016

So as we are a few days from closing the door on 2016, I
post my annual “Books Read in…” I’ve always wanted to read 52 books for 52
weeks but time, tide, and other things prevented me from doing it. Even when I
started a new cycle this year, I did not set a goal of accomplishing this goal.
In the end, it just sort of happened. I got through 62 books. It even amazes me.

I still love my sci-fi/fantasy novels, though read a few standard fiction titles.

Anyways, the elimination of cable probably helped. Since I've
time-shifted what few TV shows I do watch to Netflix and Hulu, it's freed up
some more hours to read. I’ve also stopped seeing movies, for the most part,
which saved me money and time. Money, as always, was a factor as well. Even
though I got a promotion at Goodwill to Team Lead, the money bump was not
significant to get me out the hole I got myself into.

Plus, as always, when not reading, I was posting crap on
my FB page about this years election.

But I don’t think I’ll repeat this feat in 2017. Part of
it is because I don’t think we’ll all be around once Trump takes office on
January 20. My dreams and nightmares are full of Death, with him and his
Neo-Nazi cohorts leading the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.

But at least I lived long enough to see my beloved Cubs win the World Series -which may be the only bright spot for me in this horrible year of loss.

I do plan on re-reading the Harry Potter novels and Stephen King's Dark Tower series because it's been so long and I just want to do it. Still, I got five books already lined up and two awaiting arrival at the library, so I'm not sure when I'll begin those.

27 December 2016

“The Free Navy – a violent group of Belters in black-market
military ships – has crippled the Earth and begun a campaign of piracy and
violence among the outer planets. The colony ships heading for the thousand new
worlds on the far side of the alien ring gates are easy prey, and no single
navy remains strong enough to protect them. James Holden and his crew know the
strengths and weaknesses of this new force better than anyone. Outnumbered and
outgunned, the embattled remnants of the old political powers call on the Rocinante for a desperate mission to
reach Medina Station at the heart of the gate network. But the new alliances
are as flawed as the old, and the struggle for power has only just begun. As
the chaos grows, an alien mystery deepens. Pirate fleets, mutiny, and betrayal
may be the least of the Rocinante’s
problems. And in the uncanny spaces past the ring gates, the choices of a few
damaged and desperate people may determine the fate of more than just humanity.”

I generally enjoy this series of books by James S.A. Corey (Daniel Abraham and Ty Franck), because
it’s pure escapism and, at times, fun. The real science of space travel (and
the magical realities created by the Star Trek and Star Wars franchise and
other space operas become more evident) sometimes is difficult to slog through,
but I enjoy the characters of the Rocinante
because they’re three-dimensional. But the problem this book series has had
is the villains are generally weak, mostly one-dimensional mustache twirlers.
That includes Marcos Inaros, who appears to be a surrogate for a certain
presidential-elect and comes across as a narcissistic
sociopath who gained his power by convincing a lot of people that all their
problems can be blamed on others. True, some with in his inner circle come to
the conclusion that while the ‘Belters need representation between Earth, Mars,
and the gates created by the protomolecule, Inaros is not the leader to make
this happen, and break away, but it’s surprising (though maybe not) that many
still follow him. Of course, like any good self-important leader, controlling
the narrative is paramount. But maybe the point that the authors are trying to
make is that not all bad guys are evil –they just do horrible things in pursuant
of their goals.

Meanwhile, as a general rule, what this
series does well is having a self-contained story that concentrates on the
human element rather than the alien. So while the last book went very dark with
Inaros’ near destruction of Earth, with Babylon’s Ashes deals with the fallout –though
indirectly. Most of the book delves much into what it is best at: political
intrigue, military strategy, and the fight for survival in space –though it
could also be an allegory for those struggling on Earth.

Also, this sixth volume in The Expanse
series sort of feels like a conclusion to an arc and there is some obvious foreshadowing
for future volumes. And while the protomolecule continues to be the series
McGuffin, I do wonder if we’ll get any explanation of whom or what sent it to
the sol system. While I’m sure the writers can come up a number of storylines
that are analogies, metaphors, and parables to our modern life that can fill numerous
other volumes, I wonder if we’ll still be here to read them once America’s new thinned
skinned, self-important president is installed on January 20th?

15 December 2016

It’s been well established that the novels
that make up the Star Wars (AKA Expanded Universe) have always been
non-conical. Only the novelizations of movies are the true tales. But since
Disney acquired Lucasfilm and has created a completely new universe timeline
(and thus making those old novels null and void, even though they will remain
in-print), the Mouse House has gone out of its way to start making the books
connected to newest movie trilogy. But besides those novels, two animated TV
series, Star Wars: The Clone Wars and latest Star Wars: Rebels have
been folded in as well. Which means those shows are now considered canon and
have subtle ties to the movies.

Same has come with the books, which is clever
in two ways. First it re-introduces the books as a viable resource for fans and
non-fans that wait the two years between films in latest iteration of Skywalker
saga. Plus for both new and old fans, the books are constructed in way that
tells readers there always going to be hints and back stories to ideas and
characters appearing in the newest trilogy.

And while this year we get what is to the
first in potentially many stand-alone films, Star Wars: Rogue One, let’s
not fool ourselves. Yes, it’s a film detailing how rebel spies acquired the
plans to Death Star that Luke Skywalker help destroy in the 1977 film, but this
movie has a few potential storylines that will probably intersect with Episode
VIII and IX. And this prequel novel to a prequel film, Star Wars: Catalyst begins
to set them up.

“War is tearing the galaxy apart. For years
the Republic and the Separatists have battled across the stars, each building
more and more deadly technology in an attempt to win the war. As a member of
Chancellor Palpatine’s top secret Death Star project, Orson Krennic is
determined to develop a superweapon before their enemies can. And an old friend
of Krennic’s, the brilliant scientist Galen Erso, could be the key. Galen’s energy-focused
research has captured the attention of both Krennic and his foes, making the
scientist a crucial pawn in the galactic conflict. But after Krennic rescues
Galen, his wife, Lyra, and their young daughter, Jyn, from Separatist
kidnappers, the Erso family is deeply in Krennic’s debt. Krennic then offers
Galen an extraordinary opportunity: to continue his scientific studies with
every resource put utterly at his disposal. While Galen and Lyra believe that
his energy research will be used purely in altruistic ways, Krennic has other
plans that will finally make the Death Star a reality. Trapped in their
benefactor’s tightening grasp, the Ersos must untangle Krennic’s web of
deception to save themselves and the galaxy itself.”

James Luceno prequel novel is being labeled as
“essential reading” for those planning to see Rogue One. However, I
don’t think this is really true, though it does accomplish fleshing out
characters and setting the stage for the film. Part of the books –and most
likely the film- role is to set up (what I assume) will be further explored in
Episode VIII: the introduction of kyber crystals and the Jedi Temples.

Kyber crystals are
living, Force-attuned crystals that grow randomly throughout the galaxy, and
occurred in abundance in some places more than others. The crystals
concentrated energy in a unique manner through the Force, resonating with it.
These crystals power the Jedi’s and Sith’s lightsabers. They were first
introduced in Star Wars: The Clone Wars TV series The Gathering,
the sixth episode of the shows fifth season. They were officially named an
episode later. The EU novels would develop these ideas further including making
the connection between the crystals and the Death Star’s super laser
weapon.

While not as explored as
much as the crystals, the book drops hints about the legendary Jedi Temples
(something most fans of Star Wars already know will be featured in
Episode VIII). One of the temples on Coruscant is being
used by the Empire to further study the kyber crystals so they can be
weaponized. So there is irony here.

As noted, the book
fleshes out the characters of Galen Eros, his wife Lyra, and Orson Krennic, the
Imperial scientist who fully understand that if he can get Galen, a known
pacifist, to help the Empire create a super weapon,his place in history is all but assured. The
book is set in the waning years of The Clone Wars and continues into the rise
of the Empire and Galen often reminded me of how many times scientists are portrayed
in this type of fiction, where they’re so dedicated to their work, they’re
blind to the realization that their work, which was suppose to supply unlimited cheap power to planets in need of it, will be used to hurt more than to
save. It's not a bad trope, but one that could be better presented.

And Orson is a
manipulation machine, clearly able to move Galen closer to creating the
ultimate weapon for the Empire; all while dealing with Lyra, who was always
suspicious of Orson’s goals, and Governor Tarkin, who clearly hates
Krennic.

There are some
interesting things here as well –mostly dealing with politics. Since the election
of a new president this past November, and the general dislike he has gotten from the more liberal
minded folks, the politics of the Star Wars universe becomes clearer. Rogue
One has already been called to be boycotted by the Alt-Right because it
dare present a Star Wars movie that is inclusive and multicultural. More so, than it
appears, than The Force Awakens which some tried to boycott because its
leads were a woman and a black man. Of course, that film went onto to score $2
billion in ticket sales, so I guess we can those folks who tried to affect the
box office totals met with a dismal failure.

True, the first
three Star Wars films were not overtly political, but the Empire was
clearly designed to represent the Nazi’s. They were, in those films, presented
as white supremacist
and mostly human organization. Lucas chose not to hammer the point home, but
his allegories and his metaphors were unmistakably present. And then they were
expanded in Episodes I, II, and III.In
those films, Lucas openly wanted to show how a once multi-cultural universe can
easily be torn apart by fear and xenophobia, which leads to Chancellor
Palpatine’s power grab and his words to the universe “In order to ensure our
security and continuing stability, the Republic will be reorganized into the
first Galactic Empire, for a safe and secure society which I assure you, will
last for ten thousand years.” Which then leads Padme to the obvious conclusion
"So this is how liberty dies...with thunderous applause."

Say what you will, Lucas was being political. Star
Wars was being political. He may have been using World War II has his
metaphor, but history has and will continue to repeat itself. Catalyst
does have some very relevant and often moving discussion of how far people are
willing to ignore their moral codes to comply with a regime during wartime. So
all of this has always been part of the Star Wars universe. It just
takes on a more obvious aspect with this new trilogy and this first stand-alone
film.

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Judas Kiss

The Heart-Shaped Box

Early 50s, works retail, help make the indie film JUDAS KISS,THE DARK PLACE, and the upcoming SOMETHING LIKE SUMMER, worked on the web based Hidden Frontier Productions. Makes occasional comments on pop culture that include TV, Books, Movies.